10 Ways to Avoid Anesthesia Trouble

Editor’s Note: Dr. Zeltzman scored a coup in getting the trust representatives of the AVMA PLIT to participate in a conference call for publication.

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This 6-month-old cat suffered a tracheal tear during a spay. The radiograph shows subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum.

Every day, the trust representatives of the AVMA Professional Liability Insurance Trust receive liability insurance claims related to anesthesia.

The representatives agreed to speak candidly with me to help Veterinary Practice News readers avoid 10 common anesthetic complications. For this purpose, we imagined 10 scenarios.

CASE 1Kiki the Yorkie is dropped off for a lameness exam. She is so excitable that sedation is required to examine her knees and hips. Kiki dies. Necropsy reveals grossly abnormal heart valves. Your last physical exam was performed nine months earlier during a vaccination consultation and was normal. No physical exam was performed today.

Take-home message: Every patient who undergoes sedation or anesthesia should have a thorough physical exam, which should be documented in the medical record. Normal and abnormal findings should be recorded. As lawyers say, “If it’s not written, it didn’t happen.”

CASE 2Ms. Murphy is a good friend of the practice. She drops off Lovey the Pomeranian for her yearly dental. During the warm and fuzzy conversation that invariably occurs, no paperwork is signed. Lo...